Media Release - County Council February 28 2024

For immediate release

Feb. 28, 2024

Here are the highlights from the Lanark County Council meeting held Feb. 28, 2024.

Community Housing Renewal Strategy Investment Plan Approved: Lanark County Council has approved the 2024-25 investments plan for the Canada-Ontario Community Housing Initiative (COCHI) and Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative (OPHI). These funds are part of the Community Housing Renewal Strategy, which is a multi-year plan to help stabilize and enhance existing community housing and assist with affordability and expansion of affordable housing options. The programs are 100 per cent provincially and federally funded.

At the community services committee meeting earlier this month, Director of Social Services Emily Hollington said the county, as service manager, must submit an approved plan to the ministry to show how annual funding allocations will be spent. OPHI allows service managers to address local priorities, such as affordability, repair and new construction. It includes rental housing, homeownership, Ontario Renovates, rental assistance and housing support services.

Last March, council approved a heating retrofit project for Lanark County Housing Corporation buildings, with Phase 1 to be completed in 2024 at 195 Carss St. in Smiths Falls, and Phase 2 to be done in 2024 at 16 Herriott St. in Perth and 176 Robert St. in Almonte. Hollington recommended the COCHI funding of $633,000 for 2024-25 be allocated to Phase 2.

OPHI, she said, has historically been allocated to the Homeownership and Renovate programs, except in 2019 when it was allocated to new construction of rental housing in Carleton Place and in 2023 for the implementation of the Housing Allowance Program (HAP). The recommendation for this year is to continue with Renovate and HAP, as well as a new allocation for hoarding under the Housing Support Services component. “These services are intended to improve outcomes for tenants who may need additional support to achieve housing stability,” she said.

The OPHI funds are to be allocated as follows:
• Rental Assistance - $115,000
• Ontario Renovates - $200,000
• Housing Support Services - $17,500
• Administration - $17,500

For more information, contact Emily Hollington, Director of Social Services, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 2101.

Ten-Year Capital Plan Revised: Lanark County Council has approved revisions to the Lanark County Housing Corporation (LCHC) capital plan and 2024 capital budget to ensure LCHC meets requirements for $1.49 million received from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) under the National Housing Co-Investment Fund (NHCF).

Council accepted the terms of the NHCF in November and authorized staff to execute an agreement with CMHC for the funds to support the repair and renewal of units in the LCHC portfolio over the next three years.

At the community services committee meeting last month, Director of Social Services Emily Hollington explained the LCHC received the allocation earlier this month. The agreement includes the county’s 70 per cent co-investment of $3.48 million, which is to be budgeted this year and for 2025/26. “This requires staff to seek a revision to the proposed capital projects to ensure the authorized work is completed on time,” Hollington said, adding some approved projects will proceed, but many non-essential ones will be deferred to prioritize the NHCF projects associated with energy and accessibility retrofits. Staff reviewed which projects could be deferred without impacting building longevity.

Hollington said the proposed work will benefit 149 units and will be guided by energy audit recommendations. This includes the supply and installation of high-quality, cold-climate heat pumps for 125 family units located throughout Carleton Place, Perth, Smiths Falls and Mississippi Mills. Existing gas furnaces were installed in 2017 and are part of the new system as a redundant heat backup for the coldest days and as an air handler system for the evaporators. This is expected to extend the gas furnace life expectancy due to reduced use. The heat pumps also provide cooling, which saves energy compared to window air conditioning units. Where possible, a 10kW solar installation will also be installed on the roof. At 24 Bourke St. in Smiths Falls, 24 units will be serviced by a large, central, ground-sourced heat pump.

Accessibility upgrades may include wheel-in showers, widened doorways, grab bars, ramp construction, handrails, strobe light smoke/CO detectors, and more. Accessibility upgrades are required in 30 of the 149 units and will be based on tenant needs and feasibility, among other factors.

Hollington noted the project “contributes to a sustainable community and enhances overall community development,” as well as a positive environmental impact. For more information, contact Emily Hollington, Director of Social Services, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 2101

Paramedics To Oversee AED Management Services: Lanark County Council has authorized the Lanark County Paramedic Service (LCPS) to oversee management services for Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) for the county. As well, staff will be brining an updated Public Access Defibrillator (PAD) Program Policy to a future committee meeting.

At the corporate services committee meeting earlier this month, Deputy Clerk Megan Beson explained the PAD program was adopted by council in 2011 as a way to provide access to an enhanced level of medical care in identified public buildings. Heart and Stroke Foundation funding, which is no longer available, assisted with the placement of AEDs in public buildings. There are 126 AEDs throughout the county and Smiths Falls that are part of the program.

The most recent contract for program management was awarded to AED Authority. It has expired which, Beson explained, gives the county a chance to review management services. She said in most Ontario municipalities with PAD programs, they are managed by their paramedics. “LCPS has indicated a desire to manage the AED program within the county, and it has capacity with current staff,” she said.

This would result in cost savings of about $14,000, consideration of compatibility with existing equipment, on-site CPR and AED training by paramedics, patient continuity of records following use of an AED, knowledge of AED locations and providing an enhanced level of medical care in the community, and potential for future expansion of programs (e.g., Neighbours Saving Neighbours).

The PAD program was last updated in 2014, and a review will ensure it meets updated legislative requirements and best practices. For more information, contact Megan Beson, Deputy Clerk, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 1102.
Cabinscape Lease Renewed: Lanark County Council has passed a by-law to renew the lease with Cabinscape for its “Ember Cabin,” an off-grid tiny rental cabin located on county property on the Fall River off Armstrong Side Road in Tay Valley Township, for a further five years.

At the corporate services committee meeting earlier this month, CAO Kurt Greaves explained Cabinscape approached the county about a potential lease in 2018 and the current lease was approved in 2019. The company offers the cabins across eastern Ontario, with six in Lanark County. “The current Cabinscape lease has been a great partnership that brings tourists to Lanark County and provides a revenue stream for the county.”

Greaves indicated the partnership has worked well and the only change is to increase the monthly rent from $600 to $700 per month. The rental income is used to offset the forest/trails levy.

“They are tiny and off-grid, leaving a smaller impact than most cottage accommodations,” Greaves said. “The location promotes canoeing/kayaking, biking and hiking activities, and there is history and heritage associated with the Fall River and the former CP rail line. For more information, contact Kurt Greaves, CAO, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 1101.

Chief Summarizes Year for Paramedic Service: Lanark County Council received the summary of Lanark County Paramedic Service (LCPS) activities for 2023, as presented to the corporate services committee earlier this month by LCPS Chief Travis Mellema.

Mellema outlined achievements in the Community Paramedicine Program, which has been extended until March 2026. Last year saw an increase in the number of patients enrolled in the program, along with annualized program expansion funding from the Ministry of Health, allowing for full-time positions and a more stable and formalized team. Since 2019, 1,509 clients have been served. Now 10 medics rotate monthly between delivering 911 services and community paramedicine services. The number of patient interactions, including in-home and virtual visits, has also increased. Mellema outlined special training for community paramedics, as well in-home services provided, referrals to other community resources and a range of partnerships.

Other program activities included vaccine and wellness clinics for influenza and COVID-19 and a new point of care (POC) diagnostic tool that allows community paramedics to test patients for COVID-19, Influenza, RSV and Strep in their homes, which increases access to testing for homebound or mobility-challenged individuals. The community paramedics have also been authorized to treat patients over the age of 65 who are at home or in congregate care for COVID-19 or Influenza if they have tested positive and have moderate to severe symptoms, as well as treating urinary tract infection for adult females. This helps to divert patients from emergency room.

The service has also joined the External Violence Against Paramedics Program, which helps create a safe working environment with a better understanding of external violence by patients and bystanders paramedics encounter. Mellema said there were 44 external violence incident reports in 2023. This can result on a hazard flag for addresses.

Other highlights of the report include:
• Increased contacts with staff for the Lanark County Paramedic Peer Support team and increased training and resources to support staff
• An update on operations with the loss of the Almonte base due to fire in March 2023
• Staff promotions and development, along with student practicum placements and recruitment efforts
• A summary of the more than 11,400 hours of training completed by LCPS paramedics last year
• Community outreach activities, including a long-service and save pin ceremony, active shooter training with the OPP, the inaugural Lanark County Female First Responders Camp, food drives and more
• Response time standards for sudden cardiac arrest and Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale levels

Mellema also provided the call summary for 2023, which showed a drop in calls that could be attributed in part to the increased use of the community paramedicine program. “In 2023, the top three reasons to call 911 were for breathing problems, unknown emergencies or falls,” he said. The busiest day of the week for calls in 2023 was Monday, and the busiest base was Perth, followed by Montague. Peak call volume was between 10 a.m. and 9 p.m., and people aged 51 and older make up about 76 per cent of all calls.

He also gave an overview of the total calls LCPS were dispatched to in other areas. Overall, these calls dropped last year: 2,701 in 2023 compared to 3,253 in 2022, with an increase to Leeds and Grenville but a decrease in Ottawa, Renfrew and Frontenac. Responses by other services in Lanark County increased from 413 in 2022 to 446 in 2023.
For more information, contact Kurt Greaves, CAO, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 1101.

Upcoming Meetings: County Council, Wednesday, March 13, 5 p.m.; Community Services, March 13 (following County Council); Corporate Services, March 13 (following Community Services). County Council, Wednesday, March 27, 5 p.m.; Public Works, March 27 (following County Council); Economic Development, Marh 27 (following Public Works). Watch for details about public access to meetings on agendas and through online notifications. For more information, contact 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 1502. Like "LanarkCounty1" on Facebook and follow "@LanarkCounty1" on X!